If you’re having trouble with your car’s radio reception, it may be time to replace your antenna mast. This is a relatively simple process that you can do yourself with just a few tools. In this guide, we’ll show you how to replace your antenna mast on a 1999 Toyota 4Runner, although this fix should work for any vehicle with a similar mast.
First, you’ll need a new antenna mast, which you can purchase from an auto parts store or online. You’ll also need a pair of pliers. Your new mast should come with a rubber boot attached.
To begin, take your pliers and put them in the grooves on the silver chrome plating of the old mast. This will allow you to crack it loose with your needlenose pliers. Once it’s loose, you can spin the rest off with your fingers. Remove the old rubber boot and set it aside. Then take off the other rubber boot that’s touching the car panel.
You can now take the mast out of the mast holder. To install the new mast, remove the old rubber boot from the old mast and slip the new mast up into the chrome screw piece. This is where it gets a bit tricky – you’ll need to remember how the grooves were pointed when the old mast came out. In our case, the grooves were pointed toward the back of the vehicle. When you install the new mast, you want to make sure that the grooves are pointed in the same direction.
Because the antenna mast on this 4Runner is located on the passenger side, you can hold the mast with your right hand and turn the radio off with your left hand. When you turn the radio off, the mast will wind in. Quickly make sure that the mast is catching and that it completely winds up into its little housing. You don’t want any exposed mast still sticking up when it’s fully wound in. If there is some sticking up, you may need to take off the wheel cover and assembly to remove any plastic pieces that are blocking the mast.
Finally, tighten everything up with your needlenose pliers and you’re done! With these steps, you should be able to replace your antenna mast yourself and get better radio reception in no time.